Pastor's Letter-- July 26, 2020

Usually nowadays we would be hearing good news about the upcoming parish Corn & Sausage Roast, but unfortunately this year we will not have the event due to the pandemic. In order to assure the safety of all, especially the most vulnerable, it was deemed unfeasible. Perhaps having an outdoor dinner with one or two families within the parish could be a good alternative as a way of remembering your wider parish family and keeping the risk level much lower.

Our parish is at a time of many farewells. First, we say farewell to my housemate as today is the last day of Seminarian Brian Isenbarger’s time with us for the summer. Although it was a summer that made it difficult to impossible for most in-person ministry experience, Seminarian Brian did a wonderful job adjusting and keeping himself busy with good works. Please keep him in your prayers (along with our former summer seminarians, including now one priest and one deacon). Godspeed, Brian!

We will also say farewell this weekend to Daniel Padilla, our interim director of sacred music, who will be going home for a few weeks before preparing for his next chapter of life, looking forward expectantly to an exciting future beyond his undergraduate studies at Notre Dame. have been truly impressed by Daniel’s ability to juggle so many things and still give the parish his best. We wish him the best and also offer him our prayers and support. May God bless the work of your hands!

Thursday of this week also marks the one year anniversary of the loss of our former director of music and liturgy, Brian Garland. As a close collaborator for almost three years, I grew to love this man’s quiet but deeply generous soul. He was a blessing to the parish that will not be forgotten, especially by his cantors and others who worked closely with him. I am sure he is watching over us, and especially his wife and son, and probably often with his smirk and twinkle in his eye. May perpetual light shine upon him and peace upon those who grieve.

Finally, a word about the loss of our Deacon’s daughter, Catherine Griffin. Before she was no longer able, Catherine would often attend daily Mass here with her mother and father, usually towing along the youngest child, her daughter Miriam. The witness of faith and peace in the midst of suffering truly reminds me of Jesus and the martyrs. Hers was a white martyrdom, for she never laid down the cross and never begrudged it. May God give peace and consolation to the family, that they may know her eternal salvation is assured.

Come Holy Spirit!